Lubricating emulsion.



'- UNITE STATES earn o rica. j

EDWIN A. EMERY, 01? DENVER, COLOI RADOJASSIGNOR TO THE-'EMERY PNEUMATIC'LUIBBICATOB. COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF COLORADO.

No Drawing.

To all whom it may concern:

,, Be itmknown that I, EDWIN A. EMERY, a

citizenof the United States, residing at Denver,in the county of Denverand State of Colorado, have invented new and useful Improvements inLubricating Emulsions, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to lubricants for apparatus operated bycompressed air and more particularly instances where leather is employedas packing in machinery of this class, such as pistons of cylinders inair brake apparatus, and the like.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide an improved lubricantemulsion of a soft or semi-fluid consistency which may be readilyapplied to the cylinders or other parts of pneumatic apparatus andhaving the properties ofaflinity for and solubility in the moistureof'the compressed air, and

adapted to be distributed by the action of such air over the surfaces tobe lubricated.

-Another object of my improvementis to provide va lubricant emulsionadapted to have a cleansing effect upon the packing leathers and otherparts to which it is applied, to permeate the leather or other packingmaterial used under the action of the air pressure, to fill the porestherein, to prevent the hardening or drying of the same, and to form acoating upon the wearin surface thereof whereby the efliciency and lifeof the packing is'greatly increased.

A preferred composition of lubricant may comprise an ingredient such assaponaceous matter soluble in the moisture of the air, a non-refrigerantand leatherv softening 1ngredient having an al finity for moisture,

such as glycerin, a finely divided insoluble ingredient, such asamorphous graphite, or powdered soapstone, adapted to fill the pores ofthe leather and form a coating thereon to preserve same and increasewearing qualities, and a sufiicient quantity of mineral lubricating oilto give a soft or semi-fluid consistency such as is desirable in thisclass of lubricants. It will of course be understood that any otherequivalent ingredients having the, desired properties may be employed inlieu of those s ecifically named herein.

It is desira le that the saponaoeous matter employed should be soft andplastic and also retain a suitable degree of solubility, and for thispurpose I prefer to use animal fats or vegetable oils, or acombinationof Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 20, 1912.

Application filed June 23, 1909. Serial No. 503,928.

both, reduced to a saponaceous condition with a caustic potash solution.

A preferred method of making the'lubricant is as follows z-Melt togetherabout equalportions of tallow and cottonseed oil at about 180 F., making12 or more parts; then mix about 14 parts of caustic potash solution(about 22 Baum) with about 22 parts glycerin and add the mixture slowlyto the, melted tallow and cottonseed. oil until saponification occurs,then heat about 50 parts of mineral lubricating oil, of suitable [bodyto give the desired consistency, to the same temperature as the mass andmix together slowly; this amount of oil'will give a fluid body to themass and add to its lubrifound that this-produces a smooth emulsion inwhich the soap and glycerin act as a inenstruum for supporting themineral oil and'the graphite. The mineral oil should have a specificgravity of about .85 or .90 and a viscosity. approximating that ofcylinder oil. A mixture of equal parts of Atlantic red engine oil,cylinder stock and paralliu oil serves admlrably for this purpose. Thelubricant then cools as a semi-fluid mass and is ready for use by beinginjected into the cylinders or other parts of the pneumatic machinery,or it may be placed directly in the groove formed in the piston for theexpander ring, also by coating the cylinder walls, or applied in anyother way as desired.

- The lycerin present in my lubricant is in decide excess of thequantity of glycerin liberated as the chemical equivalent of the fattyacids in the soap produced by saponificat-ion and is present in suchamount as to enable it to act as a non-refrigerant preventing thelubricant from becoming hard or stiff even at low. temperatures. It alsoserves to attractthe moisture of the air-.to

the mass for dissolving the saponaceous matter, prevents drying out andkeeps the leather soft and pliable. The graphite serves to fill thepores of the leather and ultimately forms a sort of coating on thewearing surface thereof, which prot ects the leather, tak es the wearand greatly increases the efiiciency and life of the packing.

The mineral lubricating oil should be prepared of the proper consistencybefore adding to the mass and a satisfactory oil for this purpose may beobtained by mixing about equal parts of a heavy mineral oil such ascylinder stock With a lighter variety.

After the lubricant is applied in position for use it is subjected tothe action of the compressed airemployed in operating the apparatus andthe glycerin attracts moisture in the air to the lubricant and graduallydissolves the saponaceous ingredients thereby disintegrating thelubricant, setting free the finely divided graphite and still leaving asmooth emulsion with the oil which is forced u on and into the leatherpacking by means ot the air pressure. In this manner it per meates thepacking leathers, the graphite filling the pores and stopping all leaks,and finally forming a permanent coating upon the leather, therebypreserving the same and increasing its durability and efficiency. Inactual use my improved lubricant also has the following additionaladvantages; the well known property of glycerin in attracting moistureprevents the compound from hardening or drying out in the atmosphereeven in hot dry climates where sufiicient moisture will be attracted tomaintain the lubricant in its soft or semi-fluid condition;

this property also prevents any hardening or gumming of the lubricantupon the Working parts of the machinery. The glycerin also,

on account of its non-refrigerant propertles,

prevents any freezing or stiflening of packing leathers due to thepresence of the moisture in low temperatures or tothe refrigerativeeffect of expansion of the air currents. The cleansing action of thesaponaceous ingredients has the tendency to prevent the accumulation ofdirt in the cylinders and other parts Where the lubricant is employedand thereby keeps the apparatus clean during long periods of service.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A lubricant consisting of an emulsion of mineral oil and plumbago (orgraphite) in a menstruum of soap and glycerin.

2. A lubricant consisting of an emulsion of mineral oil and plumbago (orgraphite) in a menstruum of a water-soluble soap and glycerin. I

3. A lubricant consisting of an emulsion of mineral oil and plumbago (orgraphite) in a menstruum of potash soap and glycerin. In testimonywhereof I have hereunto set my hand.

k EDWIN A. EMERY.

Witnesses IVM. M. CODY, A. M. CLEMENTS.

